GAZING AT THE MOON

Let's gaze at the full moon tonight and appreciate

 their radiance, 

spacious stillness.  And smile.

Tonight or some night,  how about reading a poem to a loved one, ancestors, a pet person, or to one with whom you have had difficulty? What poem would you choose to read or compose? 

On love, healing, openness, forgiveness? 

Moon gazing is tradition from China over one thousand five hundred years ago that spread to Vietnam, Korea, and more. In Japan,  it's called Jugoya Tsukimi. The tradition sometimes included music and composing poetry, all in a gathering of community. In this time of shifting and awakening, I love the practice of sharing stillness, contemplation, appreciation of nature, interconnection in community. 

I propose a night sending goodness, sweetness out to the world.

Greet the moon. Let's start a revolution of healing, togetherness, in community. 

Poems for you:

VIRA ~ HERO    (Sanskrit)

Truly strong

among those

who think themselves

strong.

Truly unafraid

among those 

who hide their

fear.

A hero

among those

who talk of heroes.

Don't be fooled by outward signs-

lifting heavy things

or picking fights with weaker opponents

and running headfirst into battle.

A real hero

walks the Path

to its end.

Then shows others the way.

                    ~ FIRST FREE WOMEN

        Poems of Early Buddhist Nuns

MUTTA ~ FREE        (Sanskrit)

One morning after begging for my food-

looking down at one more meal

I hadn't worked for,

hadn't paid for,

hadn't earned.

A life of debts I could never repay

pushing in on all sides

like the weight of the sea.

I blinked,

and a 

tear

fell into

my bowl.

Would it always feel like this?

Just as the moon rises up

from the bottom of the sea,

a handful of rice lifted itself

from the bottom of my bowl.

And my heart rose with it.

I wish I could tell you

how it tasted-

that first bit of food

as a free woman.

           ~ FIRST FREE WOMEN

        Poems of Early Buddhist Nuns